Editor’s Note: Troy Bishopp is a New York farmer with a passion for grazing. And he is especially passionate about educating others about the important value grazing offers. Here he shares a letter to the President highlighting his views.

Dear Mr. President, Please Stop The Cutting of America’s Grasslands

I appreciate your inspiration to exercise my right to free speech and question the judgment for the recent funding cuts to grassland research, managed grazing programs and conservation assistance initiatives in your 2009 proposed budget. The tactical cutting of funds for the National Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI), the National Resource Conservation and Development Councils (RC&Ds), the Northeast Pasture Systems and Watershed Research Unit at Penn State University and the diminishment of Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) funding slaps the face of a growing grass-based sustainable way of farming here in the Northeast and elsewhere. The incredible irony of this “zeroing” out of funding just happens to coincide with the death of Mr. “plant fencerow to fencerow” Earl Butz. Perhaps you have forgotten what has happened to agriculture since the resignation of Ag. Secretary “get big or get out.” Your citizens and their children are drowning in corn syrup and your rivers, gulfs and bays are filling up with soil, while your farming population has diminished to less then 2% of the population. This is progress?

I have to write to you directly because going through the proper channels of command hasn’t helped you to understand the importance of grass-based agriculture for America. I am quite surprised that you took this action, especially with Texas being the largest beef state relying on grasslands for its survival. I write this from New York, with some 3 million acres of grazing lands and being part of the largest freshwater watershed. The nation’s grasslands and pastures span every state and affects almost every farmer and rural community in some way. Whether you are utilizing grasslands for livestock feed, wildlife habitat, cover cropping, carbon sequestration, cellulosic fuel, riparian buffers or maintaining open space for communities, this American resource deserves much more credit then you have given it in your budget. I also find it hard to believe that your staff of professionals advising you hasn’t noticed the trend of consumers buying more sustainable grass-fed local products. I assumed this movement to green would please you on the basis of using less fossil fuels and promoting economic stimulus to small businesses like farm families and rural entities.

I am especially sensitive in your lack of regard for grassland resources because of my family farming background that has spanned 5 generations on the same land. I am also reeling by the recent loss of a young solider from my hometown of Waterville, N.Y. My ancestors persevered in farming through the many challenges of wars, the depression, agricultural policies and the loss of bountiful rural communities and Mom & Pop businesses to where we are today by doing one thing well. Taking proper care of the land with green cover. My grandfather would say it was against the law of nature to not cover the soil with either pasture or a cover crop in concert with tillage. They arose every morning with the passion for farming and to protect the land and water for the next generation. I owe it to them, my daughters, future grandchildren and consumers to push back against a system that has forgotten the importance of covering soil with sod. In regard to the loss of a hometown hero, doesn’t it make common sense at all to minimize our reliance on fossil fuels by utilizing animal grazing power to feed this country as much as possible. Maybe this strategy would help get our troops out of harm’s way protecting that fuel on foreign soil. I sure would look forward to the day when we had more farmers than soldiers. Wouldn’t agricultural policy be better for this country if we used more homegrown resources like grass and forage crops while holding tight to our national treasure, topsoil? This is a national security issue, in my mind.

How do your national program leaders in the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other national conservation groups view your decision to affect the country’s water and soil resources? You can’t convince me they would sign off on this under- funding of America’s grasslands. Having conservation programs paid for by U.S. taxpayers without the necessary “on the ground” workforce and support at the local farming level is truly foolish. What about farmers that are not in USDA programs that need some technical assistance or educational programming needs? Your “zeroing” out of budgets without farmer input or advice shows me, a steward of the land and provider of America’s food, a disrespect that hurts deeply. It’s pretty funny when leaders rise out of slumber to their coffee, half an half, cereal, fruit or bagel and forget the many men and women of agriculture that provided the sustenance to fuel a country.

If you haven’t guessed by now, my family and I are very passionate about our farm, grazing lands, community and future. Your administration’s position on America’s Grasslands and subsequent soil and water resources has us worried about that future.

We will continue however, to preserve our heritage even in the face of this challenge and continue to be a strong voice that works with Mother Nature not against. Remember the Lord said, “All Flesh is Grass.”

Troy Bishopp, Bishopp Family Farm
Deansboro, N.Y.